I hit the old cancel button on FFXI last night. Account good until the end of June. I don’t know why, I can’t quite put my fingers on it, but I just get bored of this game. It is one of the best made MMORPGs I have played, but I have no interest in playing it. Weird.

A comment about cancelling accounts. Most MMORPGs allow you to play out the remaining time on your account when you cancel. Asheron’s Call 2 says good bye. No more access for you, and no money back. Turbine (the developers of AC2) blame that on Microsoft since MS did the billing. Turbine bought full control of the Asheron’s Call games back from MS and yet they still have this same stupid policy.

The timer is ticking, waiting for my World of Warcraft beta invite. Should be in the next two weeks. Hopefully those comets won’t hit earth before then.

There is a guy playing City of Heroes who keeps having conversations at the payphones. All you can hear is one side of the conversation (the pay phones don’t actually work so he is making it all up). It is very funny stuff. You can go look for the thread at the CoH forums (www.coh.com) but here is one of the conversations. Major kudos goes out to this guy whoever he is.

Ascendant: Hello, is this the offices of Saul Rubenstien, Agent to Paragon’s Elite? Ascendant: Great. Can I speak to him? I’m a client. Ascendant: Ascendant. No, with an ‘A’. D-A-N-T. Ascendant: Ok, I’ll hold. Ascendant: –lor said ‘Brandy, you’re a fine girl, what a good wife you would be, but my life, my love and m–Ascendant: Hello, Saul, it’s Ascendant. Ascendant: No, the one with an ‘A’. Ascendant: I’m glad you asked. I’ve been going over these products you’ve sent me— Ascendant: Right, for the merchandizing campaign… Ascendant: Well, no, they aren’t. That’s why I’m calling, actually. Ascendant: I’m not really happy with them. Ascendant: Well, for starters, there’s the breakfast cereal. Ascendant: Right, Ascendant-O’s. Ascendant: Ok, it says here on the box ‘Includes Xenonite, the Secret Source of Ascendant’s Power’. Ascendant: Well, for one thing, Xenonite is NOT the secret source of my powers. Ascendant: No, Saul… No, it isn’t. Trust me on this. Ascendant: Saul, Xenonite TAKES AWAY my powers. Ascendant: Yeah, it does. In fact, if I’m exposed to it too long, it could kill me. Ascendant: I dunno. It’s got something to do with radioactivity, I think. Ascendant: Anyway, I poured a bowl of Ascendant-O’s yesterday to see what they taste like and nearly died before I could finish adding the milk. Ascendant: Well, if the cat hadn’t come along and eaten it all, I would have, Saul. Ascendant: My point is that we aren’t going to be selling Ascendant-O’s… Ascendant: Because, Saul, I’m not putting on a lead suit every time I have to go to the cereal aisle in the grocery store. Ascendant: I don’t care if you have already have a lot of pre-orders for it. Ascendant: Really? How much? Ascendant: From who? Ascendant: Ok… Right… Yeah… Uh huh… Him, too? Really? Ascendant: Yeah, well the problem here is that all those guys you just mentioned are supervillains, Saul. Ascendant: Yes, even him. I just beat him up like an hour ago for trying to poison the city’s water supply. Ascendant: I don’t care if his check cleared, Saul. That’s not the point… Ascendant: Well, of course they’re going to use it to try and kill me, Saul. Ascendant: Why else would a bunch of supervillains want a kid’s cereal laced with the one rare radioactive element I’m vulnerable to? Ascendant: No, I don’t think they just want a well balanced breakfast.Ascendant: Ok, as far as I’m concerned, this is a dead issue, Saul. Big NO on Ascendant-O’s.Ascendant: Moving on: The Ascendant action figure. Ascendant: No, I’m very disappointed, actually. Ascendant: Well, for starters, it comes with a laser sword and a talking dinosaur that I supposedly ride into battle. Ascendant: I don’t have either one of those things, Saul. Ascendant: I don’t care if the focus groups thought it would be cool. Ascendant: That’s utterly ridiculous, Saul. Ascendant: Yes, it is. For one thing, where am I going to get a laser sword? Or a talking dinosaur, for that matter? Ascendant: Fine, whatever. Anyway, I’m also a little concerned about the fact that it features ‘Burning Halo Action’… Ascendant: Right, but aside from the fact that I don’t actually have that power– Ascendant: No, Saul, I don’t. Ascendant: I’d know it if I did, Saul, trust me. Ascendant: –Aside from the fact that I don’t have anything like a Burning Halo power, do you really think it’s a good idea to sell kids an action figure that can spotaneously burst into flame? Ascendant: I see… Well, we’re going to hold on that until I approve a redesign. Ascendant: Moving on. The Ascendant Cave Action Playset. Ascendant: Yeah, I actually like this thing. It doesn’t look anything like my apartment, but it’s pretty cool, I guess. Ascendant: What do you mean they changed the name so it could fit on the box? Ascendant: Well, sure, I guess Ascendant Cave Action Playset is a little long, but couldn’t they use a smaller font? Ascendant: Fine, so what do they call it now? The Action Cave? Ascendant’s Lair? What? Ascendant: The A-Hole?!?!?! Ascendant: Why on Earth would they call it the A-Hole, Saul? Ascendant: Yes, I understand the ‘A’ is short for Ascendant, you moron, but why not call it the A-Cave? or the A-Lair? Ascendant: Uh huh… Yeah… I see… Ascendant: Well, we’re NOT calling my secret headquarters the A-Hole, Saul, and that’s final. Ascendant: Because I don’t want people to hear the word ‘Ascendant’ and immediately think ‘A-Hole’. Ascendant: Ok, moving on. The Ascendant Action Hour TV Show. Ascendant: Right. I actually like the opening animation of me that you’ve put together. Ascendant: Right, the one where I’m sheathed in a burning halo of flame, riding around the city on a talking dinosaur, hitting bad guys with my laser sword and eating chunks of raw Xenonite. Ascendant: I mean, that’s still not anything remotely close to real life, but I guess it looks pretty cool and the theme song is pretty catchy, so I’ll let it pass for now.Ascendant: It’s the rest of the show that I have problems with, Saul. Ascendant: Well, for one thing, outside of the opening theme part, the show itself is apparently just old episodes of Nightline, except every time someone says ‘Ted Koppel’, you dub over it with ‘Ascendant’. Ascendant: I don’t care if each episode only costs $22.50 plus shipping to make, Saul. In fact, I don’t think you can even legally broadcast it. Ascendant: What offshore pirate transmitter? Ascendant: Saul, that’s a federal offence. Ascendant: Yes… Yes, it is. Ascendant: Yes, someone WILL care… They’re called the FCC, Saul. Ascendant: Look, Saul, I’ve got to fire you. Ascendant: I don’t see where you’ve left me much choice, Saul. Ascendant: You’re selling cereal that can kill me to my archenemies, you’ve made my action figure not only ludicrous but potentially lethal to kids, and you’re comitting felonies by broadcasting illegal transmissions of Nightline from off shore. Ascendant: Oh, and I almost forgot, you’re selling an action playset which proudly proclaims on the box that ‘Ascendant stores all of his most precious items inside his incredible A-Hole.’Ascendant: And worst of all, my name is stamped all over all of this, Saul… I’m the one who’s going to be sued, or killed, or arrested… Maybe in that order, too. Ascendant: Saul… Ascendant: Saul… Ascendant: Stop crying Saul… Ascendant: Look… I know you tried your best. Ascendant: (Sigh)… Ok, Fine… Ascendant: Look, Ok, but just one more chance, Saul…. Ascendant: Just don’t do anything more until we can have a meeting, Saul. Ascendant: No… For the last time, NO Broadway musical! Don’t even MENTION that idea again. Ascendant: Ok, bye.

It is official, I’ll be getting my World of Warcraft beta invite in the next few weeks. I hereby proclaim this the “make or break” MMORPG for me. If it is good, I’m in for the long haul. If not, I’m done. At least until someone tries to do something REVOLUTIONARY!

Been going back and forth over deciding to go buy Thief 3. It looks good, but honestly I’ve never played any of the Thief games so I’m not totally drooling here.

Played some more FFXI last night. Changed my Taru’s job from Black Mage to Red Mage. Thus I had to start all over. Oh well, so far it is a fun class. Raised him up to almost level 5 before I had to hit the sack. With WoW beta looming, I suppose that this game will be getting the old CANCEL button too. Meh.

So I was fishing in FFXI the other day and one of my friends sent me a tell asking me how it was going. I replied that I had not been seeing my skill go up, but fishing has been pretty successful.

He replied back: Fishing will pick up if you login tomorrow at 4:45 pm. The phase of the moon is just right at that time.

OK, I’m all for making games interesting, but I am not about to schedule my real life around an MMORPG clock. When I have some free time, I log in and I fish. That is how it has to be.

In other news, a friend of mine that is in the World of Warcraft beta has sent me word that he *may* be able to get me a beta slot. Now that would be something.

Only problem with beta testing an MMORPG is that testing removes a lot of the magic that you get when you first play. The magic is a big part of what sucks you in. I am a bit torn as to what to do if he gets me a beta account.

One of my friends in FFXI borrowed me some fishing gear so I spent a few hours fishing. While somewhat boring at this time, it was nice to have something semi-interesting to do with my higher-level friends. Plus, I actually can make some money (called gil in FFXI) for armor.

I decided to sign up for another month of FFXI. Since everyone that I have ever played MMORPGs with (including my brother) plays it, it seems logical to give it another shot. That and the fact that at $12.95 a month it is a virtual bargain compared to all the other MMORPGs.

Since I can’t keep up with them level-wise, I’m going to focus on being able to chat with them, as well as doing some crafting and fishing. And if they happen to be playing a new job in my level range I’ll go hunting with them.

There are a lot of quests in this game and I missed most of them because the last time I was playing I was trying to keep up with them. Impossible to do since they play at least 400% more time than I do.

I really wish more games would add the brilliant feature that City of Heroes has: the “Sidekick”. This allows you to team up with anyone, no matter what level they are, and go hunting. Your character is boosted up to a level or 2 below the other person and your stats scale up too. You don’t get any more skills or anything, but the ones you have scale up. Just plain cool.

So for now I begin the adventures of a low level FFXI explorer. I’ll keep you posted. All none of you.

Well, after some more time playing City of Heroes I hit the cancel button. My expectations of the game came true, there just is not enough going on to keep me interested in paying one of the highest monthly fees of any MMORPG.

So what now? I will keep playing Asheron’s Call 2 of course, but I’m not very motivated to log in lately. I’ve been playing Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. MMORPGs have a long way to go before they can compete with games like KOTOR.

I’m still counting the days to World of Warcraft. I’m halfway tempted to sign up for another month of Anarchy Online or even Star Wars: Galaxies just for something else to do. *sigh*

I decided I needed some action. I rolled up a new guy in City of Heroes. I chose the tank class and made him an Axe user. Seems really odd to have a battle axe in this game, so I made my guy look like a dwarf. As silly as that sounds, I actually had fun again. Maybe I’ll give this game one more month. I’d like to at least try out flying.

I also applied for 2 new beta tests. Everquest 2 and The Matrix Online. Currently I am testing The Saga of Ryzom and another one that I am not allowed to mention. Yes, I honor NDAs. I really do not like Ryzom, but some people say it is fun. I just can’t get past the character models. I hate them all.

So I play MMORPGs. What are MMORPGs? Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games. Or something like that. Basically it is an online game that you play with 2000 other people and pay a monthly fee for new content/features every month. Kind of an evolving world if you will.

I’ve played them all, and so far they all suck. The only ray of sunshine I see on the horizon is a game called “World of Warcraft”. But still, I’m not holding my breath.

Currently I’m playing Asheron’s Call 2, the ugly stepsister of Asheron’s Call. Why do I still play this one? I have a little hope that they will pull it back from the brink.

Actually, I am playing another MMORPG but it doesn’t feel like an MMORPG. That one is called City of Heroes. Everyone is raving about it. It is fun, but talk about repetitive. Talk about repetitive. Oh sorry. All this game has is kill bad guys and kill bad guys and kill bad guys. Luckily, the game is well made and fun, but it does not have enough things to do for my interest. Account likely cancelled at the end of the month.